N pftxrs



J. LUSBY.

AKING MACHINE.

No. 323,349. Patented July 28, 1885.

(No Model.) v 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. LUSBY.

PILL MAKING MACHINE.

No. 323,349. Patented July 28, 1885.

ATTEST. 1pm/@Wow #caf/7 fam "BJ MAM,

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheen 8.

J. LUSBY.

PILL MAKING MACHINE.

No. 323,849. Patented July 28, 1885.

JNVENTOR. d?

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

J. LUSBY.

PILL MAKING MACHINE.

No. 323,349. Patented July `28, 1885.

/WTESI :4f

NEN

TOR. M;

WMZ

5 Sheets-Sheetr.

J. LUSBY.

PILL MAKING MACHNE.

,349. Patented July Z8, 1885.

(No Model.)

VIO

iirirrieio STATES PATTZNT @Trice JOHN LUSBY, OF PHILADELPHIA, IEXNSYLVANIA.

PILL-MAKING MACHlNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,34t9, dated July 2S, 1885.

Application ilcd November 20, 1884. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

.Be it known that I, JOHN LUsBY, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. have invented new and useful Improvements in Pill-Making Machines, of which the following is a speciiica-tion.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements iu pill-making machines, in which 'puiverulent material is automaticall5Y t'ed to a machine consisting, essentially, of a revolving plate or disk carrying a series of molds, into which the powder is t'ed, a plunger entering the mold and compressing the material into the desired form, land means for removing the completed pill. Heretot'ore in de' vices ot' this kind great ditliculty has been experienced when adhesive powder has been used, arising from the tendency ot'v such powdir to adhere to the plunger, and result in making imperfectly-termed pills.' The means usually employed for removing the completed pills lrom the molds is by the entrance of an independent plunger, and great inconvenience arises fr om its use, for the reason that the pills are verv liable to become broken by the action ot' this extractor, which necessitates a larger amount ot' unnecessarby machinery to operate it.

The object ot' my invention is to produce a pill-making machine in which any desired pulveri/.ed drug may be formed into pills or tablets and removed from the molds in which they are l'ormed without danger ot' breaking.

With these objects in view my invention consists ot' a pill-limiting machine ot the class ret'erred to, in which the plungcrs between which the pills are termed are cleaned by means oi' rotating` cleaners, which are brought into contact with the contact-faces ot' the plungers when they are removed from the compressed pill.

Secondly, the invention consists of a revolving carrier disk provided with a series ot' openings` i'or the reception ot' the powder to be pressed, the bottoms ot' these molds heilig formed by the upper ends of a series of vertically-reciprocating plungers, the lower ends oli' which bear upon a stationary cam, the form ot which cam is such as to hold the plungers in the required position to regulate the size of the opening into which thc powder is deposited and in which itis compressed, and {inail}7 i to elevate them sufficiently to ejectthe com- 1 pleted pill.

The invention further consists in various details ot' construction, whereby the quantity of powder deposited in the molds is regulated, the amount of' pressure imposed upon the pill determined, and the several operations ot the organism accomplished.

In order that those skilled in the art may know how to make and use mv improved machine, I will now proceed to describe the preferred construction and arrangement of parts, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is aplan view ci the machine. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the device by which the lower face ot' the upper plunger is cleaned and the mechanism employed for bringing the said cleaner into operative position, and Fig. -i is a side elevation showing the means for giving t the carrier-disk a rotary motion and retaining it in position to allow the reciprocating plunger to enter the mold which may be brought under it. Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, and Fig. 6 is a detail of the compressing-plan ger and the cleaner and means by which the. cleaneris brought under the plunger.

In these drawings, A represents the main casting or base ot' the machine, which has formed integral therewith the upright standard c, to the upper end ot' which is placed the disk B, which forms a means for supporting the principal operative portions of the machine.

C represents the main driving-shaft, which is mounted in suitable bearin gs carried by the upright portion ot' the main casting.

The molds d, into which the powder is fed, and in which it is retained during the time when it receives pressure to soiidity it, are formed in a disk, D, preferably ot' hardened steel, which is mounted upon the supportingtable iu a manner to be rotated to bring any one ot' the molds under a reciprocating plunger mounted in a suitable position. Beneath this disk D is situated another disk, E, ot' the same diameter, and mounted upon the same shaft, so as to move sim ultancously therewith.

a plunger, li", which extends a suitable distance into the said mold, and the size ot' the mold is regulated by the vertical position ot' The bottom of each mold is formed by IOO this p'uzigcr. Each plunger is provided with a lalei al piu, t, which is received by a slot, u, in the disk E, by which itis allowed a limited vertical'movement, and in this way the plungers are rendered incapable of revolving upon their own axes. The 'lower end of these plun gers bear upon a stationary cam, h, placed upon the table, and by the form ot' this cam the vertical position of the plungers, and consequently the size of the molds, is regulated.

VGr represents the reservoir into which the powder is placed and kept in an agitated condition by means of a stirrer operated by any convenient connection with the reciprocating irame carrying the plunger. The bottom ot' this reservoir is provided with an opening of a diameter equal to that of the molds, which are successively brought to register with such opening to receive their charge of powder before being brought into position under the plunger bypwhich the powder is compressed.

ln order to form a convenient means for regulating the amount ot' 'powder to be used in each pill, I provide a set-screw, T, which ,extends through the stationaryv cam and the table, with its cud in an easilyaccessible position beneath the table, and its upper end in the path ofthe plungers, and in such a position that thc particular plunger regulating the size of the mold-about to be filled rests. Thus it will be seen that by moving the said screw up or don n the amount of powder used in each pill can be easily regulated.

The mechanism by which the carrier disk is intermittently rotated and held in position during the compression of the powder will now be described.

H represents a disk keyed to the main driving-shaft, and provided on its face with a camgroove into which extends a projection from a pivoted lever, l, having its bearing in a hanger depending l'rom the under iace of' the table. The upper end ot' this lever passes up through a slot inthe table, and moves back and forth in this slot when the cam is rotated. Upon the surt'acc ofthe table, adjacent to the carrier-disk, is a block, J, having in its upper part a dovetailed groove, which receives a bar, K, to one end ot' which is attached the upper end ot' the vibratinglevcr l, through which medium the bar receives a reciprocating motion. This reciprocating har carries a pawl, fm, which engages with teeth on thecau rier-disk, which pawl is held against the said disk by means otl avsprine.

Mounted in suitable bearing between th reciprocating bar and the carrier-disk is a lever, L, extending over the said bar at right angles thereto, one end of which lever engages with notches in the upper portion of the pc riphery ot' the carrier'disk, and the other end is attached to a spring, L, the tendency of.

which is to keep the lever in contact with the disk. The lrear end of the reciprocating bar is provided with an upright pin, L2, which e11- gages with the lever L at the moment when the pawl engages with one of the teeth upon the lower portion of the peripnery ot' the disk preparatory to revolving` the said disk, and disengages the said lever from the notch in which it rested. the lever is released and slides over the periphery of the disk until it arrives at the next notch, intended for its reception, which it enters, and serves to hold the disk against turning during the operation of compressing the powder hy the entrance ofthe plunger.

N represents a frame consisting of two uprights, a a, and cross-pieces o, connecting the opposite ends of the said nprghts. This frame is held in position by sleeves 0, formed with the main casting, in which sleeves it is free to reciprocate. Motion is given to this frame through the medium of a cam or any equivalent device connected to the main shat't.

To the cross-head o of the frame is secured the depending plunger l?, which is adjustable vertically in the said cross-head,in order that the amount of pressure imposed upon the powder' in the mold may be regulated, and the movement of the reciprocating frame is so timed as to bring the plunger down at the moment one ofthe filled molds is brought into proper position beneath it.

When adhesive powder is used, it has been found necessary to clean the compressing. plun gers after every operation. This cleaning has heretofore been done by hand, and it has necessitated the'employment of oncattendant to each machine.

In my improved machine i have provided cleaners which effectual] y remove any of the powder' which may adhere to the plungers or dies by means ot continuously-rotatin g scrubbers, which are brought into contact with the dies immediately atter they are removed from contact with the compressed pill.

The upper die or plunger is cleaned by means of a rotating scrubber, which may be a brush, orthe like; but I prefer to use a shaft having that portion which comes in contact with the plunger covered with ielt. This cleaner is brought into contact with the end of the plunger when the latter is at the limit of its upper movement, and remains in contact during the time consumed in turning the carrierdisktobringanewmoldbeneaththeplunger.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for bringing this cleaner into operative position; butl prefer that shown, which will now be described.

Situated upon the tableadjacent to the reciprocating frame carrying 'the plunger is a vertical plate, 1, in which is cut a groove, 2, into which extends a projection, 20, from a frame depending from and pivota-lly secured to the cross-head of theframe. This depending arm 3 is provided with a vertical groove, 4, in which is supported a hearing for the shat't 5, upon the inner end of which is mounted the cleaner 2l, which is brought into contact with the plunger to remove any powder which may adhere thereto after the pill As the bar moves rearward,

IOO

IOS

IIO

IIS

has been compressed. The outer end ofthe shaft is provided with apulley, which hears a belt passing over a suitable drum, 92on the main drivingshaft, by which means the said shaft 5 is given a rotary motion, continuing as long as the machine is in operation.

`The form ot the groove in the frame l is such that as the reciprocating frame ascends, carrying withit the plunger and the depending` fra-ine 6, the latter is carried toward the. said plunger by means ot' the projection which slides in the groove The distance from the cross-head to the cleaner is equal to the distance from the said head to the extreme end ot' the plunger, so that when the cleaner is carried overa suthcient distance the cleaner will come in contact with the lower or bearing sui-tace ot the plunger.

In order to take up the slack ot the belt `which transmits power from the driving-shaft tothe shaft carrying the cleaner, I provide the arm 7, mounted loosely upon the drivingshaft C and carrying the pulley S, which is brought against the belt by means ot' the spring 9 with sutlicient force to take up the slack in the said belt when the cleaner is in the lowest position assumed by it.

Upon the opposite sido ofthe table from that upon which the device for cleaning the plunger is situated I arrange a simple mechanism for cleaning the upper ends of the pl u n gers which are carried by thc molds. These plungers are carried for a short distance in the position they assume in forcing lthe coinpleted pill out ot the mold-that is, with their ends proiecting a short distance above the carrier disk-and while theyV are in this position they are operated upon by a cleaner similar to that used upon the plunger. This cleaner consists ot a, shaft, 9, carrying upon its end a cleaner consisting of telt mounted in bearings in the upper bifurcated end ot' an arm, l0, which is pivotally secured to the table. The shaft upon which the cleaner is mounted receives motion through the medium of a belt, 23, passing' over a pulley, 24, upon the main shaft, like the cleaner situated on the opposite side ot' the table, and, like that cleaner, has its drivingbelt provided with a device i'or taking up the slack ofthe belt. In its normal position the shaft l) has its inner end, which carries the cleaner, resting upon the surface ot' the carrier-disk or the end ot" the plunger which may be in position for cleaning. ln order to provide a convenient means for raising this cleaner from the surface ot' the disk during the rotation thereof, I provide the sliding bar K with a projection, l1, which engages with the inclined arm upon which the y fail, or occur at any time other than the cori rect one, injury to the machine hy the impact shalt (l is mounted when the said har is being drawn back to bring the pawl into contact with a tooth ot' the carrier-disk, tor the purpose of l revolving that disk. The projection 11 can ries the end of the arm l() backward a short distance, thereby raising the cleaner from the disk, in which. position it remains until the disk is turned and a plunger which has been relieved of its pill is brought into position to be cleaned.

In the operation of the machine it has been found necessar to clean themolds every time they have been used, and it has also been -found advantageous to coat the interior ofthe mold with a lubricant in order to facilitate the removal of the completed pill intact, and to guard against the Iadhesion ot' any powder. In order to accomplish this cleaning and lubricating, I have provided two depending arms supported upon an extension from the crosshead o, and arranged in such al position that each will enter one ot the molds when the carrier-disk is in a stationary position and ready for the plunger to enter the mold which has just been lled with a powdered drug. The arm 15 is provided at its lower end with a hall ot' cloth, felt, or the like, which is forced into the mold for the purpose ot' removing any powder which may haveadhered to the mold. The. arm 1G is provided at its lower end with a porous material, which holds oil, grease, or the like which may be used to lubricate the mold. The arrangement of these arms l5 and 16 is such that the mold which is cleaned by one operation is lubricated by the next, so that it is in proper condition for the reception of the lubricantr The completed pills are removed from the molds by the rising of the plungcrs in the sa-me, and this rising is regulated by the form ot' the stationary cam h. The lowest point in this cam is bcneaththe cleaners, which allows the plun gers to be entirely out of the mold when the cleaner and lubricator enter. From this point the cam increases slightlyin height until it arrives at the pointl where the powder is received, from which point it is ot a uniform height until the point where the impact of the plunger I is received, after which the height increases suiljciently to force the plungers out of the mold, and thereby discharge the compressed pill. rlhe cam is of the same height from the point where the pill is discharged until the place where the cleaner t'or operating upon the lower plungers is passed, when it decreases suddenly to bring the plungers in suitable position for the entrance ot' the cleaning and lubricating cylinders.

As a simple and convenient means of removing the pills from the top ot' the carrierdisk after they have been discharged by the action ot' the plungers, I provide the scraper S, which extends a suitable distance over the said disk into the line of motion of the disk a-ndscrapes the pills off into a suitable receptacle.

Should any of the operations oi the machine ot the plunger against the carrier-disk, or-any other equally injurious movement, I provide a projection, It, extending from one ot' the uprights of the frame a ce, which, in the proper operation of the machine, passes through one ot' the notches entered by the retaining-lever ICO IOS

IIO

. pleted pills therefrom, and a cleaner moving into contact with the operating-surface ofthe plunger or die after each operation.

2. Apill-making machine comprisingaseries of molds moving successively beneath a compressing plunger or die, means for feeding the material to said molds and removing the completed pill therefrom, and a revolving cleaner brought into contact with the operative surface of said die after each operation.

3. As a means for cleaning the reciprocating plunger of a pill-making machine of the kind described, a continuously-revolving cleaner carried by the frame which supports the plunger, and moving into contact with such plunger after each operation compressing-the material.

4. A cleaner adapted to remove adhesive material from the contact end of the plunger ot'a pill-making machine ofthehind described, the said cleaner receiving rotary motion from the main driving-shaft of the machine and moving into contact With the said plunger after each operation.

5. As a means of removing the powder from the plunger in a pill-making machine of the kind described, a cleaner mounted upon a shaft having its bea-rin gs in a hanger depending from the frame carrying the said plunger, the said hanger having a projection running in a guide in an upright attached, the form of Which guide is such as to carry the cleaner into contact with the end of the plunger.`

v6. In a pill making machine, a carrier-disk having a series of molds therein, and a series of plungers fitting in said molds and having their lower ends bearing upon a cam, whereby the position ofthe plunger is determined and the size of the mold regulated.

7. In a pill-making machine, a carrier-disk having a series of molds, a series of plungers having laterally-projecting pins fitting into the said molds, a disk of equal diameter to that of the carrier-disk situated beneath the said carrier-disk, provided with openings for the reception of the plun gers and slots for the reception of the projecting pins, and a stationary cam situated beneath the saidplun gers, whereby the positions ofthe plun gers are controlled.

8. In a pill-making machine, adisk or plate carrier carrying a series of molds, a plunger adapted to enter the molds successively, a series of plungers forming the bot-tom ot' the molds, means for raising the plungers in the molds, and a cleaner adapted to act upon the upper ends of the molds when they are in an elevated position.

9. In apillmaking machine, the carrier-disk carrying a series of molds, the bottoms ot' which are formed by a series of verticallymovable plungers, a cam situated beneath said plungers, and a rotary cleaner situated above the carrier-disk, and coming into contact with the ends of the plun gers when they are raised by the cam.

l0. In combination With the plungers F, the continuously rotating shaft 9, carrying a cleaner at its end, which cleaner is in line with the ends ot' the plun gers when they are raised from the molds.

11. Inapill-makingm achine, the carrier-disk having the series of plungers regulated by the cam, and the shaft 9, mounted in verticallymoving bea-rings, whereby it is adapted to be removed from the carrier disk during the turning thereof.

l2. In a pill-making machine, a disk carrying a series of molds, and having an intermittently-rotary motion to bring the molds beneath a compressing-plun ger, and a plunger carried upon a reciprocating frame, the said frame being also provided with a depending plunger Which enters a mold from which the pill has been removed as the frame descends and removes any powder that may adhere to the walls of said mold.

13. In a pill-makingmachine, a disk carrying a series of molds, and havinganintermittentlyrotary motion to bring the molds beneath a compressing-plunger, and a plunger carrying a lubricant and entering the mold from which the pill has been removed, for the purpose of facilitating the removal of the pill to be formed in the said mold.

14. In a pill-making machine, an intermittently-ratating carrier-diskicarrying a series of molds, a reciprocating plunger adapted to enter the molds successively, and tvvo depending-plungers adapted to enter the molds after the pills are removed, one of said plungers carrying a cleaner and the other lubricating material.

l5. In a pill-making machine, a carrier-disk having notches in its periphery for the reception of a pawl by which it is given an intermitten tly-rotary motion, a reciprocating frame carrying a plunger and adapted to enter the molds successively, and a projection from said frame adapted to pass through the notches in the plate when the frame descends, if the several parts ot' the machine operate properly, and bearing upon the carrier-disk when any of the parts fail, for the purpose set forth.

16. In a pill-making machine, acarrier-disk containing a series of molds the bottoms of which are formed by plungers which bear upon a cam situated beneath the said disk, and by Which the plun gers are raised to expel the completed pills, and a scraper extending IOO IOS

IIO

partially across the disk for the purpose of l removing the completed pill.

17. ircoinbination with the carrier-disk having the vertically-moving' plungers, and the eontinuously-rotating shaft` 9, carried in movable bearing', reciprocating bar K carrying; a projection adapted to come into Contact wiih the said movable bearing` and carry the cleaner from the surface of the dislr during the turning` thereof.

18. As a means for cleaning jche molds and dies in a pill making;` machine of the kind described, a continuously-rotating cleaner brought periodically into Contact with the plunger by which the material is compressed, a similar cleaner brought into contact with K the upper ends of the plungers forming the boi-toms of the molds, and plungers depending from the frame carrying the oompressingthe pills are formed.

19. In a pill-making,` machine, a oarrierdisk carrying a series oi' molds t-he bottoms of which are formed by vertically-movable plungers, a cam situated beneath and in contact with the lower ends of the plungers, and set-screw passing through the said cam ai; the point at which the mold receives its charge of powder1 whereby the size of the mold; and eonsequently the quantity of powder placed in the mold, is regulated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN LUSBY.

Vitnesses:

G. A. DOUGHERTY, W. W. DOUGHERTY.

plunger adapted to enter the molds in which zo 

